By Makutu Manneh
Lamin J. Darboe, leader of the National Unity Party (The Gambia) (NUP), has expressed confidence that a coalition of three to five opposition groups could defeat the incumbent in The Gambia’s December 5 presidential election.
Darboe dismissed claims that the president’s victory is inevitable, describing such views as overly pessimistic. He said the upcoming polls would be different, urging citizens to vote according to their conscience.
Speaking in a recent interview on Kerr Fatou, Darboe revealed that discussions are already underway among five opposition groups, including both registered and non-registered political movements. He argued that if these groups unite, they could outmatch any rival bloc—including the ruling National People’s Party (The Gambia)—given the country’s demographic realities.
“I respect the position that without UDP, no opposition coalition can win the election, but I disagree,” Darboe said. “If we do not have a chance, then UDP too does not have a chance.”
He cautioned against building a coalition based solely on numerical assumptions, noting that current projections remain speculative. With several months remaining before the election, Darboe said political dynamics could still shift significantly.
Darboe emphasized that it is in the collective interest of the opposition to carefully assess the political landscape, prioritize national interest, and agree on a unified path forward.
He reaffirmed NUP’s commitment to coalition-building ahead of the 2026 presidential race, acknowledging that while a broad alliance is possible, full unity may be challenging given the presence of more than 20 political parties.
“There is a possibility for the opposition parties to come together, maybe not all, since we are talking about more than 20 political parties,” he said.
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